In many ways, it’s been a fairly successful season for Jose Mourinho, hasn’t it?
After all, Man United are currently second in the Premier League table, two points and a game-in-hand ahead of Liverpool and more-or-less safely inside the top four, with fifth-place Chelsea nine points away.
AFP or licensors Can Mourinho claim this season is a success?[/caption]
They’re also through to the semi-final of the FA Cup, although they face a considerably tricky clash against Spurs to reach the final.
And overall, he can be pleased with the performances of summer signings Romelu Lukaku and Nemanja Matic, while David De Gea remains the world’s best goalkeeper and Marcus Rashford continues to be talked up as one of football’s most exciting youngsters.
EPA Rashford has struggled to become a regular starter at United under Mourinho[/caption]
But since the defeat to Sevilla in the last-16 Champions League, many fans and critics have somewhat changed their perception of Mourinho and his presence at United – including myself.
And before you roll your eyes, it’s not the first-round knockout that is has stuck in the craw of fans – after all, the club have under performed in the Champions League for a while now.
Mourinho even said so himself in his post-match ‘football heritage’ rant, saying: “In seven years, with four different managers, once not qualify for Europe, twice out in the group phase and the best was the quarter-final; this is football heritage.”
EPA Mourinho’s post-match press conference after the Sevilla game was perplexing – even by his standards[/caption]
But what’s really grinding the gears of the club’s supporters is the uninspiring, cautious and unadventurous football that he continues to insist upon, coupled with his outdated methods, general negativity and the juvenile me-against-the-world attitude that has resulted in the gloomy atmosphere around the club.
PLAY DREAM TEAM WEEKENDER Pick seven players to win £10k!After the win against Brighton last weekend, Mourinho spectacularly hit out at his own players for their ‘lack of personality, class and desire’, singling-out academy graduate Scott McTominay and brutally dumping on Luke Shaw, with some even claiming he’s bullying the young defender.
Whatever you want to call it, it’s not tough love and it’s certainly not doing Shaw – or the atmosphere in the dressing room – any favours.
Reuters Luke Shaw has been constantly criticised by Mourinho[/caption]
And in terms of ‘football heritage’, United are still living in the shadow of their success under Sir Alex Ferguson and have laboured under the management of David Moyes and Louis van Gaal ever since, but Mourinho’s decision to highlight the club’s lack of recent success does nothing to justify his own failings.
It’s fair to say that the club slumped under Moyes and plateaued with LVG, but something far worse is happening under Mourinho and it could go a long way to damaging United’s great legacy.
AP:Associated Press Finers in ears[/caption]
The club is becoming toxic, the atmosphere stoic and the gap to their rivals is widening in terms of success at Man City and excitement and firepower at Liverpool.
And the club’s long-time philosophy of excitement, vibrancy and youth has become overshadowed by Mourinho’s negative tactic, whining to the media and overbearing need to outspend his opponents.
"Get Mourinho out and get Steve Bruce as Man United manager!" 
Passionate caller has a solution to all #MUFC's problems 
pic.twitter.com/9owC3ign1Q
— talkSPORT 
(@talkSPORT) March 14, 2018
Don’t get me wrong, whatever happens by the end of the season, nothing will take away the extreme success the Portuguese manager has enjoyed throughout his career, which includes Champions League success with Porto and Inter Milan and league titles in four different countries.
News Group Newspapers Ltd The Boss[/caption]
But Mourinho’s once-great reputation is gradually diminishing and seemingly taking United down with him.
His decision to turn on his own players and his failure to inspire that old siege mentality could spell the premature end to his time at Old Trafford if things haven’t changed by this time next season, or worse, he could seriously damage the heritage of the club that was built by Matt Busby and nurtured under Ferguson.
READ MORE:
Ashley Young will provide England with experience and versatility – he absolutely must go to the World Cup Why did Jose Mourinho treat Bastian Schweinsteiger so badly at Man United? Victor Lindelof is growing in confidence at Man United and could even be one of their best players next season
0 comments:
Post a Comment